Daisy McAndrew

Daisy Candida McAndrew (née Sampson; born 20 May 1972 in Hampstead, London) is an English journalist.

Daisy McAndrew
Born
Daisy Candida Sampson

(1972-05-20) 20 May 1972
Hampstead, London, UK
NationalityBritish
EducationWycombe Abbey School, Buckinghamshire
Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies
OccupationJournalist
Years active2003–present
Notable credit(s)
Daily Politics
ITV News
Spouse(s)
John McAndrew
(
m. 2005)
Children2
Websitehttp://www.daisymcandrew.co.uk/

Education

McAndrew was educated at Wycombe Abbey School, an independent school for girls in High Wycombe and then at the Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies to pass GCE Advanced Levels in English, Politics and the History of Art.

Career

At the age of 19, McAndrew worked as a researcher in the House of Commons, transferring to The House Magazine which she went on to edit between 1995 and 1997 before becoming a freelance political journalist in the House of Commons Press Gallery. In November 1999, McAndrew became a press secretary to the Liberal Democrat Leader, Charles Kennedy.

After the 2001 general election, McAndrew decided to develop a career in broadcasting, making regular contributions across television and radio and presenting Channel 4's lunchtime political programme, Powerhouse.

In January 2003, using her maiden name, Daisy Sampson, McAndrew came to national prominence as a BBC News presenter co-hosting the weekday lunchtime Daily Politics with Andrew Neil, and presenting Yesterday in Parliament on BBC Breakfast. In 2005, from January to August, she presented the weekday drive-time show for London's LBC 97.3.

In September 2005, McAndrew joined ITN as Chief Political Correspondent for ITV News, and in June 2008 became ITV News Economics Editor after returning from maternity leave. She occasionally acted as a newscaster of ITV News weekend bulletins and the ITV Lunchtime News, from 2006–2007 and again 2010–2011. In August 2011 she began working under the new title of special correspondent. In December 2012 she left ITN. McAndrew was an occasional news reviewer for the ITV daytime programme This Morning. In February 2007, McAndrew's reporting was questioned, this time by Ofcom. She claimed on air that an interview of Tony Blair by Michael Parkinson revealed that Blair believed God played a role in his decision to go to war in Iraq. ITV was forced to apologise following the ruling.[1]

In January 2006, it was alleged that McAndrew was responsible for the ITV News story that led to Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy being forced to reveal that he was a recovering alcoholic.[2] Kennedy's party colleagues chose to capitalise on what was already low-key public knowledge, and this forced his resignation and triggered a leadership election.[3] Having served as Kennedy's personal press secretary, McAndrew's role in this story was widely questioned;[4][5] some broadcasters and journalists aired the view that she had turned on her former employer, and dubbed her "the blonde assassin".[2] Others considered that Kennedy's colleagues had questioned his capabilities to lead the party and had chosen to capitalise on the situation.

Personal life

In August 2005, Daisy Sampson married John McAndrew, former editor of The Daily Politics; her husband works for Sky News. She has two children, Milly (born 2006) and Daniel (born 2007).

Apart from work, McAndrew has many other interests: "A self-confessed speed-junkie, motorcycles, go-karts, dune-buggies and fast cars are her other passions as well as throwing parties, cooking, walking her dog Ted and endlessly moving home!"[6]

In 2015, the international media development charity Internews announced that she had been appointed to their trustee board in the UK.[7]

gollark: Oh, ingame chat.
gollark: I would have said fish, if only I had scrolled down...
gollark: Other people donated. Probably more than you.
gollark: What is it *for*?
gollark: How very clear.

References
  1. ITV News rebuked for misreporting Blair interview The Observer, 27 February 2007
  2. 'Blonde assassin' who was behind Kennedy downfall scotsman.com, 7 January 2006
  3. Kite, Melissa; Leapman, Ben. "The three days that finished off Charles Kennedy's leadership". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  4. How Chatshow Charlie was left high and dry scotsman.com, 8 January 2006
  5. And finally? Not when ITN has a sackload of exclusives The Observer, 19 February 2006
  6. "Daisy Sampson". BBC News. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  7. "Well-Known British Broadcasters Join Internews' UK Board". Internews. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
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